A Holy Witness in a Hostile World

January 18, 2015

Speaker: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti

Series: 1 Peter, A Holy Witness in a Hostile World

Passage: 1 Peter 2:6-12

Jesus Christ is the precious Cornerstone of the church, but to those who reject Him, He is a stone over which they stumble and fall in condemnation and judgment. Peter quotes from Old Testament passages; Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; and Isaiah 8:14 to make his point.

“Here is a timeless truth. Whether we like it or not, every Christian is an advertisement for Christianity; by his life, he either commends it to others or makes them think less of it. The strongest missionary force in the world is a Christian life.” (Barclay)

Peter uses four terms to describe the church which were used of Israel in the Old Testament in vs. 9. This does not mean that the church replaces Israel. God made literal promises to Israel in the Old Testament concerning, land, a nation, a king and a kingdom. Though never fulfilled in the past these will be literally fulfilled in the Millennium, the yet future 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. The church does not take the promises of Israel but is called to fulfill the responsibilities and functions which Israel failed at, that is, to declare God’s qualities and characteristics to an unbelieving world. We in the church are to exhibit in word and deed the character of God. We do this by living in such a way that His qualities and character are seen in our lives. We do this ty dealing effectively with the flesh and its desires, and by doing good even in the face of false accusations.

“God displays us to a watching world in order to show what godliness in human clothes looks like….This means there are things a believer must not do for the sake of his witness.” (Murdock)

Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, are said to be God’s own possession (“a people belonging to God”). For that reason a Christian has incalculable value, no matter what value the world attaches to them.

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